SPARKE, (George) Archibald (1871-1970)
Cardiff 1884; CL Kidderminster 1894; CL Carlisle 1898; 1CL Bury 1901; CL Bolton 1904-1931
His full opportunities only came at BOLTON where he was able to open three Carnegie libraries simultaneously, to build up a reference department of exceptional scope and quality and to develop local studies and service to industry and commerce, financed by a locally obtained 2d rate. He became a local antiquary and historian, a frequent contributor to Notes and queries, compiler of Bibliographia Boltoniensis (1913) and, jointly with A R Corns, A bibliography of unfinished books in the English language (1915).

George Archibald Sparke, b. 19.7.1871 Cardiff
author of papers and short stories
(YB 1897, 159)

librarian, curator and secratary at Carlisle from March 1898
(YB 1900, 101)

Glasgow, Eric, Archibald Sparke: librarian. Library History v. 18 no. 2 (July 2002) p. 136-9

Portrait. The Librarian and Book World v. 23 (June 1934) p. 273